Pumps are at the very heart of any district heating system – they are charged with the challenging task of pushing water through miles and miles of piping to reach consumers’ heating systems. When VERDO – a green energy provider with a modern Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant in Randers, Denmark – needed to replace its main pumps, the plant seized the opportunity to renew its fleet altogether.

Green and leanMany district heating plants have an ambition of reducing their CO2 and NOx emissions. But Verdo’s green ambitions are higher than that. Unlike many power plants that are fuelled by fossil fuels, Verdo is fuelled 100% by biomass, a renewable resource made of organic materials. The plant’s management also wants it to be the greenest energy company in Denmark measured by CO2 emissions and the amount of energy used. One of the ways to fulfil that ambition is to fuel the plant with completely CO2-neutral wood chips and wood pellets. In fact, Verdo has made sure that even the transportation of the wood to the plant is as CO2 neutral as possible.

"We have a very clear idea of what we want from our main pumps: extreme reliability, a strong track record, and a high hydraulic efficiency."

Jesper Thillemann Petersen, VERDO project manager

PHOTO: Erik Sommer controls Verdo’s distribution network.

36,500 people depend on Verdo’s heat

Project Manager Jesper Thillemann Petersen led the new main pump project.

“We supply district heating 365 days a year to more than 36,500 households, and our city is growing,” he says. “We have a big responsibility towards existing customers, future customers and the environment. That means we have a very clear idea of what we want from our main pumps: extreme reliability, a strong track record, and a high hydraulic efficiency.

”He continues, “It means a lot that 36,500 people depend on the pumping solution that we choose – their everyday comfort is at stake.”

The Grundfos solution for green energy

Grundfos was able to offer VERDO the perfect combination of size, reliability and efficiency. The plant was supplied with Grundfos’ largest HS pumps, complete with IE3 motors for high efficiency, top pull design for easy maintenance and double volute design for balanced hydraulics.

The plant is now ready to supply the growing city of Randers with reliable, green district energy for decades to come.

“Grundfos’ solution met all our requirements and then some. We have increased our thermal capacity and are ready to supply our growing city with reliable, green district heating,” Jesper Thillemann Petersen says.

Products:* 10 HS and 2 NKG pumps* Combined capacity: up to 9700 m3/h in PN25* Motors: up to 630 kW

* Plus a large variety of other pumps for applications ranging from cooling to fire to water treatment and more. You can find all the details in our Grundfos District Heating brochure.

Lower supply-pipe temperature:

* Winter: from 95° Celsius before replacement to 78° Celsius after replacement

* Summer: from 84° Celsius before replacement to 74° Celsius after replacement

Increased capacity:Verdo’s thermic capacity has been increased from 40 MW to 60MW to handle the expected growth of one of the many districts that VERDO serves with district heating.

"It means a lot that 36,500 people depend on the pumping solution that we choose – their everyday comfort is at stake."

Jesper Thillemann Petersen, VERDO project manager

PHOTO: Grundfos has supplied Verdo with the giant main pumps and a series of industrial pumping solutions

About VerdoVerdo is a green energy provider with a modern CHP plant, based in Randers, Denmark.Capacity: Net: 48 MW power and 140 MW thermal energy, plus 133 MW capacity in the form of peak load- / back-up boilersCustomers: 54,000 power customers, 36,500 heating customersPumps: With more than 80 pumps ranging from 0.12 kW up to 630 kW, pumps play a central role in the stability, reliability and efficiency of Verdo. Read more about Verdo here.

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